Kahr Arms CT45 .45 ACP Pistol

Kahr Arms has been in the pocket-pistol business since 1993, and its single-stack, striker-fired pistols were the trendsetters for today’s crop of concealed carry guns. The U.S.–made pistols are covered by seven patents-Kahr won a patent infringement lawsuit against Diamondback last year-and there is no doubt that the guns are well made and well suited to daily carry for personal protection. The problem, for some, is the price.

Last year, Kahr rolled out the CT series to compete with more recent and lower-priced entrants into the category it created. The cost-cutting changes had to do with frivolities such as finish in non-critical areas, how markings are applied and what kind of box the guns would come in from the factory. The quality and design are there where it matters. The latest in the CT line is a .45 ACP, which has (for Kahr) a full-size polymer frame that houses a seven-round-capacity detachable box magazine. The 4-inch barreled CT45 has an overall length of 6 1/2 inches, is 5 1/4 inches high and measures a little more than an inch wide. Sights are a white-bar-and-dot arrangement dovetailed into the stainless steel slide. The best news is the price, which is a suggested retail of $449.